Table Talk

[DCopper04]

What do you think about table talk, especially when a player is trying to make a big decision? Does it influence your decisionmaking? I usually try to pay careful attention to table talk to spot tells, although it can be difficult to do much of the time. Some things I have noticed:

1. Most of the time, if a player says he wants you to call, that means he really does want you to call. Similarly, if a player says "I will call you if you go all-in" then he is probably going to call you if you go all-in. Players normally don't B.S. about that.
2. If a player goes all-in and is awaiting your decision, he might ask "whatcha got over there? Mid pockets?" or something to that effect. In this situation, I tend to believe that his hand is not as strong as he is showing it to be. If he has AA or KK, he wouldn't really care what you have, right?
3. This is one that is often difficult to read if you don't know your opponent very well, but can be useful nonetheless: Sometimes, when a player is awaiting a big decision by you, he will tell you that if you fold, he will show his cards. Generally, I believe that if the player is weak or inexperienced, he is usually not holding a very strong hand . Conversely, if he is a good player, then he usually is holding a strong hand.
4. I'm sure most of you would agree with this simple assessment: The talkative players are usually the loosest. This doesn't mean that the deaf, anti-social kid sitting across the table from you won't bluff on occasion, but normally, the talkative ones are the loosest (and often the most reckless.)

Your thoughts?

[Kidd7138]

I have to agree with you on #4, talkative players do seem to be on the looser side. But have you ever run into a player who is talkative, but it usually has nothing to do with poker, like (I'm talking online here) he just starts small talk in the chat box, or congratulates people on good hands, or when a chip leader is transferred to your table. I've seen a few talkers like this who appeared to be quite solid players.

#1 I think is a little questionable though, especially the all in thing. This just seems like a common thing I see in home games and it rarely carries any weight, its usually just to try to scare the other players. The call thing could go either way too, pretty much because I don't think I've ever heard someone say that he wants you to fold when you're contemplating what to do.

[BrianSwa]

in most books ive read they say the most talkative is usually the ones you want to sit with. I do very very little talking at a table, really should be paying attention to the game and not talking anyway. Im talking about live games, online everyone is a moron anyway and has nothing important to say so usually ignore them.

[johnbaker]

at b&m games with strangers, i try to be as talkative as possible. i act like a fuckin brat when someone makes a dumb play, let them respond to it, and let them get nervous. the last time i played 2/4, i was sitting next to some fat guy, and some guy across the table was talking a lot of shit to him. i felt bad for the chubby guy to my left, who was starting to look a little sad, so i said "just ignore him, i'll break him within an hour." this was a pretty stupid thing to say considering we were playing 2/4 limit... yet somehow the shit talker managed to donate 8.5 big bets (he had 9 when the hand started) to me when i had the nuts and he had like aces with 9 kicker... after that everyone at the table was a little timid in hands against me... i actually pulled off 2 bluffs... in 2/4 limit... im still amazed that they worked hahahah

anyways yeah i reccomend using table talk to extract as much information as possible from people... also its a lot more fun than sitting there saying nothing to anyone the whole time.

-jB

[ChipFish]

Don't believe everything you read in books.

[BrianSwa]

was just telling you what I do, personally I dont like talking shit to people. Expecially in low limit games they are there to have fun and I dont get enjoyment out of ruining that for them. Higher levels or decent sized buy in tables might be a little diferent but as for 2/4 unless the guy is a total jerk im not gonna make them feel like crap. This isnt directed towards the earlier story obviously that guy was a jerk and needed to be busted.

[greenbuckets]

I agree with the statement that people who talk a lot tend to be loose and play a lot of hands. I also have noticed that those are generally the better players at the table. When I play at cardrooms or casinos, I usually look for the table with lots of talkers as those are the tables where you will win more money. When players who don't talk much get in the hand, they usually have a strong hand.

[Penguinfan]

This is why I like Poker Stars rule of turning off the chatbox when a player is all-in.

[Gutzz]

I don't really use words to induce calls/bluffs. At least not in the hand I'm currently playing. More often than not I want them to be afraid of me. Even on the net I would like to have 1 or 2 players at the table fear me.

Example: Someone insults my bet on river with ace high. I ignore it. Then a few hands later I win 2 pots and say, "yes it was a nice bet." He says, "Ooooh you win a few pots and all of a sudden you're an expert?" I say, "I would say so." Then he says, "Keep raising." I respond, "Ok I will, as long as you promise to keep calling." --- I managed to bluff him twice later on in the session .

IRL I just try to be a nice guy to everyone. I hate it when people gun for me, and don't want people to think if I beat them in a showdown they'll get mocked and verbally attacked. But not too nice .

Cheers,

Gutzz

[jillaj]

I personally think anyone who talks shit online especially unprovoked is a moron. It doesn't take much balls to write something to someone who you will never see.

[sjay2k]

I feel really bad hearing about the fat guy who was being picked on to the point of sadness. Poker's supposed to be a fun game. So many players are utter wankers...